Antimicrobial activity in cultures of female Drosophila Melanogaster

Drosophila In sex-segregated laboratory cultures of the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster, fly food from mated female cultures show reduced microbial growth compared to food from male cultures. We confirmed this, hypothesising that the disparity may be due to the presence of small molecule antimicrobials secreted by female flies, possibly as a means of protecting the eggs from pathogenic microbes as well as potential for preserving the food source for larvae. Extracts from fly cultures were active against Escherichia coli and other gram-negative bacteria but not against gram positive bacteria nor Candida albicans fungi. Extracts were taken as washes of culture medium surface which were then processed to exclude microbes and proteins. Activity is present across males and female cultures with the female extract having a far greater activity compared to male. When extracts were fractionated and analysed through size exclusion HPLC and LC-MS it was confirmed the active components were small molecules. Among a list of potential compounds one was of great interest as it was a brominated compound; bromine has been shown to be antimicrobial in its natural state and when incorporated into organic compounds. The potential identification of a novel small molecule antimicrobial which is not a peptide could potentially be used therapeutically in cases of multi-resistant gram negative infection.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

masters

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Lancaster University

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Authors dc:creator

• Dwarampudi, Venkata
• Clancy, David